Loose-leaf binder.



PATENTED AUG. A25, 1903.

G. R. NELSON. LOOSE LEAP BINDER.

APPLIOATIoNIILBD un. a. 190s.

No 101m..

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Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENTA OFFICE.

CHARLES R. NELSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,005, dated August25, 1903. Application iiled April 3, 1903. i Serial No. 150,874. (Nomodel.)

To all wir/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. NELSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful I1 provements in Loose-Leaf Binders, otwhich the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in,

that class of loose-leaf binders in which the leaves or sheets are heldbetween a pair of adjustable clamping members, and particularly to themeans employed for holding the clamping members normally in compressedposition and also for releasing the holding means when it is desired toremove or insert a sheet.

The invention comprises, in general terms, a pair of clamping members,one of which is provided with a rod parallel Atherewith and having teethalong one side thereof and the other of which has pivotally connectedthereto a pair of links provided with paWl-carriers slidably mounted onthefrod and the pawls of which normally engage the rod-teeth. To permitof the separation of the two clamping members,the ratchet-rod isrotatably mounted and when turned becomes disengaged from 3o the pawls,which being released enables the vas springs to separate the clampingmembers.

The invention consists of the arrangement and combination of partshereinafter fully described, particularly designated in the claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 isa plan ofa loose-leaf` binder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a similar view with the ratchet-rod 4o thrown out of engagement withthe holding- 5o form the back of the binder.

pawls and the telescoping connecting-posts removed. Fig. 3 is a detail,on an enlarged scale and partially in section, of the pawl-carrier,pawl, and ratchet-rod; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line a: of Fig. l.

The 'clamping members of the binder comprise a pair of parallel plates10, which are preferably provided with rightangle extensions or attachedplates l1, which overlap and The ends of the clamping members are alsoprovided with overlapping extensions 12, each ofone pair of which isbent over to embrace the other, as at 13, so as to guide the clampingmembers inV Athe usual tubular telescoping posts 15, shown as three innumber in the present instance, in which are located spiral springs 16,acting normally to separate the clamping members. Mounted in bearings17, fixed to one of the clamping members 10 and disposed longitudinallyof the latter, is an oscillatable rod 18. This 'rod is provided Withteeth at each end Whichare preferably inclined in oppositedirectionsthat is vto say, the teeth adjacent each end are directed orinclined toward such end. Pivotally connected, as at 19, to the otherclamping member 10 is a pair of diverging links 20, each of which haspivoted thereto a pawl-carrier 2l, having mounted therein a pawl 22,which normally engages the teeth ofthe adjacent end of the rod 18.

In the construction shown the paWl-carriers 2l lare in the vform ofblocks provided with passages 23, through which the rod 18 passes,andeach having a right-angle cavity 2l, in which is seated the pavvl22,the latter being forced into engagement with the teeth of the rod, asshown in Fig. 3, by means of a. coilspring 25, seatedqinthe cavity 24and reacting against a plate 26, closing the bottom of the cavity. Theteeth of the rod 18 extend along one side only thereof, and when thesaid rod is rotated to a slight extent-say through an angle of ninetydegrees, which may be accomplished through the medium of a key 27 passedthrough an aperture in the end of the binder and engaging the adjacentend of the rod it-the teeth are thrown out of engagement with the pawls22, thereby permitting the springs 16 to expand and force the clampingmembers apart. The rotation of the rod 1S may be limited by a stop 2S,

IOO

xed to one of the bearing posts 17 and adapted to be engaged by the endsof a pin 29 passing through the rod 18.

In order to prevent the straightening of the links 2O When the clampingmembers are forced apart by the expansion of the springs 16, a stop 30is disposed in the path 'of each of the links 20, which arrests the saidlinks before they reach a point of dead-center.

The leaves intended to be used with the binder may be of ordinarycharacter and provided with apertures which fit around the posts 15 andare provided with slits in the edge to permit of their being slippedonto the posts. After the insertion of a leaf orleaves the rod 18 isturned so as to have its teeth engage With the paWls 22, and then thebinder is forced together,preferably by pressing upon the opposite endsof the two clamping members.

By providing a pair of pawls arranged as shown, engaging the rod 18 ator near its ends, the rocking of one member upon the other when one endonly of the binder is compressed or unequal pressure is applied isavoided, inasmuch as the pawl at each end of the binder respondsimmediately to the slightest compression of the members and holds thesame against separation until the rod is turned.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, apair of clamping members, a ratchet-rod earried by and parallel With oneof the clamping members, and a pawl normally engaging the ratehetrod andconnected by a pivoted link to the other member.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a pair of clamping members, alongitudinallydisposed oscillatab'le rod carried by one of the membersand provided With teeth along one side, a pawl normally engaging theteeth at each end of the rod, and a link pivotally connecting the saidpaWl with the opposite clamping member.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a pair of clamping members,teleseoping posts connecting the members, springs normally acting toseparate the members, a rod parallel with, and oscillatably mounted inbearings ixed to, one of the members and provided With teeth along oneside thereof, pawlcarriers slidably mounted on the rod, pawls mounted onthe carriers and engaging the rod-teeth, and links pivotally attached tothe carriers and to the other member.

4t. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a pair of clamping membershaving telescoping tubular posts provided with springs normally actingto separate the members, a rod parallel with, and oscillatably mountedin bearingposts fixed to., one of the members and provided with teethalong one side thereof, the teeth adjacent each end being inclinedtoward such end, a paWl-earrier slidably mounted on each end of the rod,spring-pressed sliding paWls carried by the carrier and normallyengaging the rod-teeth, and links pivotally connected to, the carrierand to the other clamping member.

5. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a pair of clamping membersone of which is provided with an oscillatable rod parallel therewith andhaving teeth along one side thereof and the other of which has pivotallyconnected thereto a pair of links provided with paWl-carriers slidablymounted on the rod and the pawls of which normally engage the rod-teeth.

6. In aloose-leaf binder, in combination, a pair of clamping members oneof which is provided With an oscillatable rod parallel therewith andhaving teeth along one side thereof and the other of which has pivotallyconnected thereto a pair of links provided with pawl-carriers slidablymounted on the rod and the pawls of which normally engage the rod-teeth,stops in the path, and for limiting the movement, of the links,projections on the rod, and an abutment for engaging the rodprojections.

oHARLEs R. NELSON.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. SEIBOLD, E. M. KLATCHER.

